A10945:413
Seven treatises containing such direction as is gathered out of the Holy Scriptures, leading…Seuen treatises containing such direction as is gathered out of the Holie Scriptures, leading…
Seven treatises containing such direction as is gathered out of the Holy Scriptures, leading and guiding to true happiness, both in this life, and in the life to come: and may be called the practise of Christianity. Profitable for all such as heartily desire the same: in the which, more particularly true Christians may learn how to lead a godly and comfortable life every day. Penned by Richard Rogers, preacher of the word of God at Wethersfield in Essex.Seuen treatises containing such direction as is gathered out of the Holie Scriptures, leading and guiding to true happines, both in this life, and in the life to come: and may be called the practise of Christianitie. Profitable for all such as heartily desire the same: in the which, more particularly true Christians may learne how to leade a godly and comfortable life euery day. Penned by Richard Rogers, preacher of the word of God at Wethersfield in Essex.
London: printed by Felix Kyngston for Thomas Man, 1603
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
But we need not spend many words about this matter, that the servants of God have, and ought to cast off outward sins.1 Another thing here is chiefly to be regarded; and this I think good to advertise the christian reader of: that there are many who seem godly, and are not; that he may take more heed to himself, least he be found of the number of any of them. I refer them all, to four special kinds: the first are gross offenders, whom every vile person which knoweth them to have made greater shows of godliness, then the common sort do (and yet not to be lights in good living) nor such indeed, as they go for, but deceivers; every §Hvile person (I say) will be ready to laugh them to scorn, and hath reason enough, he thinketh (they being such) to bring them into disgrace. For when such a profane person once hath found out their hypocrisy and hollowness of heart, by open and oft committed evils, he is the further off from all little reverence (which yet he showed to them before) and hath Christian religion it self in meaner account for their cause. I will not deny, but (such is his shame) that if any walk sincerely indeed, and without just cause of rebuke, yet he is little moved at their example, neither greatly reverenceth them, or takes any good by them, but reproacheth them rather. But that is because he hath seen so many, who beside some outward appearance of zeal,§I were little more gracious in their lives, or better then himself; and therefore he is hardened to think so of all the rest. Which wilful blindness and hardness of heart, though it be too fearful a sign of Gods vengeance to him, and that God hath given him over into his own hearts desire; yet in the mean while, this in great part may be justly attributed to the lives of those, who professing godliness, in their deeds denied the same, and were nothing less then they went for.2 Whose cursed course of living (I mean them which have caused others to fall most dangerously) doth witness and speak fore against them: and they are enemies to their own soul, and nothing the men they go for: and seldom have I seen such to be reclaimed from their evil §Kcustom and course when they have long lien in it, and to be brought to any such change, that in charity, better hope might be conceived of them, but as they lived, so they have died;